These animals are truly blessed

Howard Lipin

Four-year-old Great Danes River and Sage were among the pets blessed on Sunday, Jan. 24, 2010, at Congregation Dor Hadash in Kearny Mesa during the Reconstructionist synagogue’s Blessing of the Animals.

Four-year-old Great Danes River and Sage were among the pets blessed on Sunday, Jan. 24, 2010, at Congregation Dor Hadash in Kearny Mesa during the Reconstructionist synagogue’s Blessing of the Animals. (Howard Lipin)

Ezra Bisom-Rapp, 10, of Del Mar looked up as his father, Charles Bisom-Rapp, held their 16-year-old turtle, Rocky, during the Tu B’Shevat celebration at Congregation Dor Hadash. — Howard Lipin / Union-Tribune Kevin J. Greene of Point Loma got a kiss from Boxey, his 4-year-old boxer, yesterday at the Tu B’Shevat celebration, a holiday that celebrates a new year for trees but was expanded to embrace all life, from plants to animals. — Howard Lipin / Union-Tribune

With a plastic cone around his head, Mugsy the Pekingese looked like he could use a blessing.

The dog, who belongs to Gary Rotto and his family, was one of the pets brought to the Blessing of the Animals held yesterday ﻿at Congregation Dor Hadash, the only Reconstructionist Jewish synagogue in San Diego County.

Rotto, of Serra Mesa, said Mugsy was recovering from surgery to have a growth removed.

“We didn’t time it for the prayer, but it was a good time to receive a blessing,” Rotto said.

The blessing was part of the congregation’s celebration of Tu B’Shevat — the 15th day of the Hebrew month of Shevat. The celebration marks a new year for trees but was expanded to embrace all life, from plants to animals.

This is the second year that the congregation, with about 125 families, has held the animal blessing.

“They bring their snakes, their fish, their dogs, their cats to honor what is most sacred to them — their animals — and to honor God’s creation,” said Rabbi Yaffa-Shira Sultan.

Kelila Rotto, ﻿12, said she appreciated the chance to honor her pet.

“It’s kind of nice because people always get blessings,” Kelila said. “It’s nice for a dog to get that, too.”

Dogs of all sizes, from Mugsy to two 125-pound Great Danes, were brought to be blessed, along with Rocky the turtle, who was carried in a plastic box. Others held up photos of pets they couldn’t bring.

The blessing, which took place outside at the Kearny Mesa industrial park where services are held, was solemn with a lighthearted touch. Sultan read from the blessing: “May their feathers always be preened and smooth and sleek.”

Members of the congregation responded: “May they never suffer from ick, and may their fins and scales always sparkle in the light of your sunshine.”

When Sultan sang “May God’s light shine upon you,” Sage, a Great Dane, responded with a hearty bark.

Audrey Crespin said Sage and River, their other Great Dane, were found abandoned in a canyon near their South Park home when the dogs were 12 weeks old. River, now 4 years old, has health problems and could use a blessing, Crespin said.

“We love them to death,” said her 16-year-old daughter, Sienna Crespin.

Sultan said the celebration fits in with Reconstructionist Jewish beliefs. The movement sprang from Conservative Judaism but looks at ways to define religion within natural law, she said.

“We focus on godliness rather than God,” she said. “What does it mean to live a godly life?”

Congregants study the Torah, the sacred text for Judaism, but believe it was written by humans rather than by God. Reconstructionist Jews try to make the Torah relevant to today, Sultan said.